Wings trek to Baltimore for more summer tournament fun on the diamond

By Dom NicastroCorrespondent

Friday

Aug 17, 2018 at 3:32 PMAug 17, 2018 at 3:32 PM

The Saugus Wings are flying to Baltimore to play a little more baseball this summer.

After competing in the North Shore Baseball League this spring and summer, they are heading down to Baltimore to play in the Mid-Atlantic World Series this weekend. Saugus opens up Friday at 12:30 p.m. against a team from Tampa, Fla. On Saturday morning, they will take on the defending champs from Baltimore, and then a New York team in the afternoon. Other teams in the tournament include teams from New Jersey, Maryland, Tennessee and Florida.

In the North Shore League, the Wings finished 7-17, and missed the eighth and final playoff spot by three games, finishing second-to-last in the 11-team league.

Saugus was the youngest team in the NSBL with an average age three to four years younger than most of its competition. The majority of the players were 18 to 21, with the oldest at 23.

Saugus in the tourney in Baltimore will have plenty of pitching depth that includes Lawrence Falter, Todd Tringale, Dave Harris, A.J. Kotkowski, John Prentice and Castillo. Prentice and Castillo, both also teammates at New England College, just finished up their season with the North Shore Navigators, as well.

Saugus will be solid behind the plate with Victor DeMatteo, Dawson Gaudet and Prentice. The infield will consist of Steve DiBlasi, Pat Murray and Castillo at first, Chris Mitchell at second, Ronnie Paolo and DeMatteo at shortstop, Harris and Tringale at third. The outfield will be manned at times by Anthony Cogliano, Jr., Gaudet, Harris, DeMatteo, Castillo and DiBlasi.

Anthony Cogliano, Sr., head coach of the 18u Wings team, will be in Baltimore this weekend, as well.

Saugus will be the youngest team in the tournament again. However, Coach Mark Mitchell thinks with its pitching staff that they can compete with anyone in the tournament.

"Our pitching staff and defense will be our strength," Mitchell said. "I’m excited to see the three younger players – Tringale, Paolo and Cogliano, Jr. – also contribute this weekend. All three will be leading Saugus High next season as seniors, and will be contributing next summer with Saugus in the NSBL."

Saugus will play three pool games Friday and Saturday, followed by single elimination playoff contests beginning on Sunday.

The team is made up of mostly players from the Wings’ North Shore Baseball League [NSBL] club, and it will also feature three players from its 18u EBL squad.

Saugus will be the lone Massachusetts team in Baltimore. It received an invite a month ago.

"We will be missing a few of our players, who left for college early, but the team we are going down with is still very talented," Mitchell said. "Most of the guys have been off for a few weeks, so everyone should be well rested for the tournament. If we score runs, we should be in the final game on Sunday. I’ve been told the field of teams in the tournament is strong. I think it will be good for us that none of the teams know us. "

Follow the tournament online at www.leaguelineup.com/midatlantictourneys.